“Everyone agrees we must do more to ensure that our government runs efficiently and makes the best use of taxpayer dollars. While we welcome the ability to reduce duplication and streamline government services, we are concerned about the impact that the President’s proposal could have on the ability of the United States to aggressively open new markets to American-made goods and services and create U.S. jobs. Creating jobs must remain our number one priority, and a smart, aggressive trade policy that promotes our world-class agricultural and manufactured goods and services is critical to accomplishing that goal. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is nimble, lean and effective – and time and again it delivers on its mission and creates jobs here at home. Taking USTR, one of the most efficient agencies that is a model of how government can and should work, and making it just another corner of a new bureaucratic behemoth would hurt American exports and hinder American job creation. We certainly need to look for ways to reduce government and cut taxes, but not at the expense of programs that are helping businesses, ranchers and farmers create jobs and expand our economy.”

As Chairmen of the Finance and Ways and Means Committees, Baucus and Camp serve as chairmen of the two committees that work most closely with the Obama Administration to advance the U.S. trade agenda.